The following explains rug styles and origins:
China
The first Chinese rugs and carpets were created around Xinjiang, a
region that spans the northwestern part of China. During the Han
Dynasty, from 206 BC to 24 AD, the trade along the Silk Route spread the
art of rug weaving throughout China and each region developed a
distinctive style.
Traditional Chinese rugs feature patterns similar to those found on
Chinese porcelain and other established Chinese art forms. The symbols
and motifs used are typically Buddhist or Taoist in origin, such as the
lotus flower, clouds, dragons, phoenixes, elephants, horses, and bats,
which are a symbol of good fortune. Traditional colors found in these
rugs are black, blue, red, white, beige, and yellow. Although these rugs
are beautiful, they are generally designed to be symbolic rather than
just aesthetic.
France
Carpet making in France began in the early 17th century when King Henry
IV ordered Pierre DuPont to produce imitations of Oriental rugs. DuPont
established the now famous Savonnerie factory west of Paris, where the
art of French rug making began in earnest, not just as a means to
reproduce Oriental styles. By the mid-18th century, workshops had also
appeared in Aubusson, a town in Central France, where the art of
producing tapestries was embraced.
French Savonnerie rugs tend to be heavily decorated with flowers,
sometimes in vases or baskets, armorial framed medallions, rococo
S-scrolls, or shells. Aubusson tapestries and carpets showcase figures
set against pastoral scenes replete with stylized foliage, plants, and
birds, oftentimes with far away towers and towns further in the
background.
India
Carpets and rugs have been produced in India since as early as 500 BC,
although India carpet weaving did not flourish until after the
establishment of the Mughal Dynasty in the 15th century. The Mughal
emperor Akbar brought Persian craftsmen to India and their style fused
with existing Indian techniques to form the foundation for Indian carpet
and rug weaving.
The presence of vines, floral patterns, animals, birds, and geometric
and calligraphic patterns are common in traditional Indian rugs and
carpets. The coloring found in Indian rugs has been greatly influenced
by the art’s roots in Persian weaving and, therefore, multiple shades of
blue and green, among other colors, set against a red background are
very popular.
India – Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent, famous
for the production and export of Cashmere wool. Although shawl making,
most notably Pashmina shawls, is the primary type of weaving associated
with Kashmir, rugs and carpets are also widely produced in this area.
Kashmir, along with Jaipur, Agra, and Bhadohi, is one of the primary
centers for the Indian carpet and rug industry.
Iran
Iran is home to the world famous Persian carpet. Carpet weaving is one
of the most distinctive and notable expressions of Persian culture and
art, which dates back to at least 500 BC. Today, hand-woven carpets
produced by an estimated population of 1.2 million weavers are exported
from Iran to account for 30% of the world’s hand-woven carpets to more
than 100 countries, totaling about $420 million in revenue.
Persian carpets are traditionally known for their tremendous variety in
design, color, size, and weave. Moreover, they are known for the
uniqueness of each and every rug produced. Rugs are generally named
after the village, town or district where they are woven or collected,
or by the weaving tribe in the case of nomadic pieces. Each rug's
particular pattern, palette, and weave are uniquely linked with the
indigenous culture, and weaving techniques are specific to an
identifiable geographic area or nomadic tribe.
Iran – Bijar
Located in northwest Iran, Bijar is known for producing rugs that are
exceptionally stiff, heavy, thick, and durable. The rugs are beaten
during the weaving process to make the rugs denser, which accounts for
the durability. This weave serves as the primary means of identification
of a Bijar rug, as the patterns and colors used vary greatly.
Iran – Heriz
Heriz, a village in northwest Iran, is known for its carpets featuring
bold, geometric patterns and designs containing a dominant center
medallion. Luxuriant reds, blues, greens, and yellows set against ivory
are typical of Heriz rugs. Highly stylized floral motifs, stepped center
medallions, and double outlining, a design technique where the main
aspect of the rug is separated from the field by two lines in different
colors, set these rugs apart from other Persian rugs.
Iran – Isfahan
One of the largest, most important centers for Persian rug-weaving,
Isfahan is located in central Iran and was once the capital of Persia.
Classic Isfahan rugs date back to the Safavid Dynasty, which lasted from
1501 to 1736, but the city is still the site of major production, with
these carpets being some of the most highly sought after around the
world. Rugs produced in Isfahan usually display ivory backgrounds
against blue, rose, magenta, saffron, and indigo motifs that form
symmetrical, balanced designs. Center medallions are very common, as are
arabesque tendrils, vines, palmettos, and cloud bands.
Iran – Sultanabad
Now known as Arak, Sultanabad produces Western-influenced carpets that
differ greatly from most other Persian rugs. The rug industry located
here played an important role in commercializing the production of
Persian rugs and carpets. With a reputation for high-quality
construction, Swiss import company Ziegler & Co. established workshops
in this area in the late 1800s to maximize the scale of output and
profit margins. Rich, warm colors and large-scale design elements are
usually found in these rugs, which also tend to be quite large.
Iran – Kashan
Kashan, situated in north central Iran, yields some of the very finest
Persian rugs and carpets available. A center of silk production since
the 16th century, many of the best Persian silk rugs have been
attributed to Kashan, although high-quality wool carpets are produced
there as well, at least since the end of the 19th century. These rugs
often contain elongated center medallions and corner spandrels, with
little to no blank space. All-over patterns are not uncommon either,
with repeated floral, vase, vine, scroll, and leaf designs contained
within a central border within two smaller contrasting bands.
Iran – Tabriz
The city of Tabriz in northwest Iran is considered one of the most
important rug-weaving centers in Iran and is home to some of the most
skilled and artistic weavers in the world. Always handmade, the
patterns, colors and the large number of hues used are characteristics
of a Tabriz rug. The palette used may range from dark red and navy blue
to ivy, tan, soft green and other pastels. These rugs are known for the
large number of colors used in a single piece. They usually have
intricate patterns, with small and complicated details. Most Tabriz rugs
have a medallion in the middle and quarters of medallion at the corners,
but there are some which may have geometric, simpler patterns where
floral motifs are predominant, with vases, palmettos and hunting scenes
near the edge.
Iran – Malayer
Rugs from Malayer, a town in northwest Iran, are typically very thick
and vary widely in pattern, including both medallion and allover
designs, although patterns do tend to be somewhat abstract or geometric.
Boteh, a paisley design and herati, a flower centered in a diamond with
curving leaves surrounding the diamond, are both common, as is the use
of empty space. Blue, red, cream, and orange are frequently seen in
these rugs.
Iran – Mashhad
The city of Mashhad is one of the oldest centers of carpet weaving in
the world and is still home to extensive carpet manufacturing. Curved
lines, central medallions, corner floral designs, and densely decorated
backgrounds are characteristic of Mashhad carpets. Common colors used
include dark red, blue, and khaki. These rugs are constructed from some
of the highest-quality wool in Iran and are usually large in size.
Iran – Yazd
Centrally located, the city of Yazd is known for high-quality, durable
carpets. These rugs generally showcase a single center medallion with a
strong red background and brownish border. Pink, green, and khaki are
also common.
Iran – Nain
Nain, a small city in central Iran, and its surrounding areas began
producing rugs relatively recently, only in the 1930s. Nain rugs are
usually made of wool with silk highlights in dark blue, beige, or cream
colors. Central medallions and bird motifs and floral designs and
tendrils are highly characteristic. Nain was home to famous rug weavers
and designers Habibian and Reza Jafari Naini, whose rugs are beautiful,
frequently copied, and highly valuable.
Iran – Qum
Produced in the holy city of Qum located in north central Iran, these
rugs can date back to the early 20th century and feature thin piles and
mostly silk construction. Qum rugs can utilize a variety of styles, but
usually feature small allover designs with curved lines. The colors used
are generally bold, including red, blue, and ivory.
Iran – Senneh
Senneh rugs come from the town of Sanandaj in northwest Iran, where the
dialect spoken among weavers is called Senneh. These carpets come in a
range of both allover and medallion patterns that are often imitations
of Bijar or Tabriz styles and it is their weave that makes them unique.
Using very fine mountain wool, Senneh rug weavers create very thin, fine
carpets. Precise, crisp, often geometric designs usually characterize
these rugs, along with varied, rich colors.
Iran – Shiraz
Although Shiraz is more well-known for making wine than rugs, the
southwestern Iranian city also has a thriving carpet industry. Unlike
other cities, however, Shiraz rugs tend to be made by home weavers
instead of in large factories. These domestic artisans usually sell
their pieces at the main bazaars in Shiraz, where traders will collect a
sizeable group from many independent weavers to export as a group. These
rugs generally feature geometric patterns, pole medallions, or
diamond-shaped lozenges as the primary motif, with borders consisting of
smaller bands around a larger band with various leaf designs. Commonly
used colors include numerous shades of red and brown.
Pakistan
Pakistani carpet weaving may have existed since the 11th century,
brought by the first Muslim conquerors, but it became a substantial art
form during the Mughal Dynasty of the 16th century. Once Pakistan was
declared a country in 1947, many Muslim carpet weavers settled around
the cities of Lahore and Karachi, which continue to be centers of
production.
Pakistani rugs are hand-knotted, generally using imported wool, and
feature a variety of motifs and colors. The most common designs are
gulls, medallions, boteh (paisleys), and geometric designs.
Turkey
The tradition of Turkish rug making is one of the oldest in the world,
maybe even dating as far back at 7000 BC. The art of Turkish carpet
weaving as we understand it today, however, began in earnest in the 11th
century, during the reign of the Seljuk Empire.
These rugs feature geometric prints, large-scale allover designs and
lighter colors. Highly stylized floral motifs are also common, both in
the main field and in the border of these carpets. However, like other
types of Oriental rugs, Turkish rugs’ styles, designs, and colors vary
depending on the region in which the given piece was produced.
Turkey – Hereke
The town of Hereke, on the northern coast of Turkey, is home to the
Hereke Imperial Factory, founded by Sultan Abdulmecid in 1843 to produce
rugs for Dulmabahçe Palace. Weavers from all over the Ottoman Empire
were employed in Hereke to design and create carpets made primarily with
wool, camel hair, silk, and metallic threads. Containing traditional
geometric Turkish motifs as well as floral designs and curved lines,
these carpets embrace some aspects of Persian rug making.
Turkey – Oushak
Woven in the town of Oushak in western Turkey, these rugs are sometimes referred to as Anatolian rugs and have been produced since the 15th century. Often utilizing a color palette of apricot, cinnamon, saffron, blue, green, and gold, Oushak rugs generally showcase star or medallion designs and constructed using fine, silky wool found in the region. Newer Oushak rugs sometimes include the floral patterns typical of Persian rugs.
Soumak
Another type of flat-woven rug, Soumak carpets incorporate geometric
patterns and tribal motifs, such as small birds. Large polygonal
medallions, smaller repeated medallions, and angular S-shaped motifs are
all common in Soumak rugs. Dark red, pink, khaki, green, blue, ivory,
brown, rust, and orange are the primary colors used in the production of
these rugs.
Souf
Souf rugs are unique because they combine both flat-woven and pile
techniques to create a three dimensional effect. Flat weave methods are
used to create the background of these rugs, while pile methods are used
to create the protruding design. These rugs, usually made in Kashan or
Qum, are not meant to be walked upon, but rather used as pieces of art.
Bakhtiari
Bakhtiari rugs are named after the nomadic tribal group native to
Isfahan, Iran that makes them. These rugs are immediately recognizable
due to their familiar patterns, which contain Persian flora and fauna
around a network of squares or garden. Some carpets incorporate latticed
or compartmental designs. While the colors used in these rugs varies
greatly, the principal colors used include many shades of white, ivory,
red, brown, green, and yellow.
Turkmen
Turkmen rugs, sometimes known as Bukhara, Afghan, or Turkoman rugs, come
from Central Asia where they are woven by the original Turkmen tribes.
Vegetable and other natural dyes are mostly used to create these rugs,
while designs are usually geometric or tribal. The tree of life motif is
also common among rugs of this type.
Mahal
The term Mahal is used to refer to Persian rugs manufactured in the Arak
province of Iran and describes a general quality of rug produced in that
region. These rugs usually have large-scale patterns that include
florals, arabesques, vines, trees, and palmettos.
Kilim
Kilim rugs are flat tapestry-woven carpets or rugs that are produced
anywhere from the Balkan peninsula to Pakistan. Taken from the Persian
word gelim which means “to spread roughly,” kilims have a flat surface
with no pile and can be used as prayers rugs, decorative floor or
furniture covers, or wall hangings. They are characterized by
large-scale, stepped patterns and bold colors.
Sarouk
Sarouk carpets run the gamut of design and color, employing curved
lines, geometric patterns, herati, boteh, allover patterns, and
medallion designs. The medallions featured on these rugs could be one of
many shapes, including oval, diamond, round, floral, or hexagonal. The
main colors used in the more traditional examples of these rugs are red,
blue, burnt orange, ochre, and champagne. More contemporary versions
employ rich reds and blues, along with yellow, turquoise, and pink.
Farahan
With sturdy construction and subtle allover patterns, Farahan rugs have
customary “turtle” borders, which feature pairs of split arabesques.
Dark blue backgrounds with repeated herati designs containing rose
blossoms and leave are typical of these rugs. However, coloring may also
vary within individual rugs to give the pattern a more diverse effect.
